Another week has brought another declaration that captain Dane Coles could've played "if it had been a final."
Instead, the "niggly" knee injury the Hurricanes hooker suffered in the March 18 win over the Highlanders, will now keep him out until April 15 at the earliest. Ricky Riccitelli will again be the starting No 2, when the team hosts the Waratahs at Westpac Stadium on Friday.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said Coles has a posterior or medial cruciate ligament issue - he isn't sure which - and "if he's fit to play next week, he'll play."
